Mexborough and Swinton Times April 6, 1928
Local Tributes
The following local tributes have been paid to Roy Kilner:
Mr John Belshaw (chairman of the Wombwell Urban District Council, who has had a lifelong personal association with Roy Kilner): “we have lost one of our greatest townsmen. Of all our sons none has been held in higher esteem than Roy Kilner. Wombwell has followed his career proudly. We knew that wherever he went he would reflect credit on this country, is counted and the little mining township from which he came – we knew that he would always play the game. We have followed his exploits at home and abroad a great admiration. He stood for all that was highest in sport., His personal character was irreproachable, success never spoilt him. Personally, I felt that his death had been a great blow. In the name of the town of Wombwell I should like to express our deep sorrow at his death in a great sympathy for his relatives.”
Mr Harry Charlesworth (a member of the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, chairman of the local committee for Roy Kilner’s benefit, and a lifelong friend and admirer of Roy): “It is impossible to express our grief at Roy’s death. The tragedy has left us all stupefied. Full of gay spirits and a man who expressed happiness in every step he took, there has never been another personality quite like him in English cricket. It is hard to think we shall never look upon him again.
Full of good nature and the nicest fellow one could meet anywhere Roy always took a sensible view of things. I always had a great personal regard for him and no man breathing took a greater interest in his career. He confided in me a good deal, and I was always impressed by shrewdness.
As a cricketer is lost to the county is nothing short of a calamity. He was always ready to place part in a tight corner. As an all-rounder it was not often that it fell to his lot to play the heroic. Nevertheless he has got Yorkshire out of some tight corners. Who, for instance, forget the great occasion at Leeds some two years ago when Yorkshire are being scuttled and Roy was the only man who could stand up against the Lancashire bowling? Roy and a warm manly nature, and everywhere he was put certification of the highest ideal of sport. He always played for his side can count himself as nothing. Whatever happened he never complain, and once, when he he had had a bad run, he told me philosophically that if he was never chosen again, he had had his share, and there were others to follow on. His death is a great loss to national sport.”
Mr Charles Boocock (chairman of the Wombwell Football Club): “The news of Roy Kilner’s death was a great shock to the country – in this district is nothing short of a tragedy. It will be a long time before the full meaning of it is realise. It is very sad indeed that he should be cut down at the height of his career. The loss to county cricket is a staggering one – the place he leaves in the heart of sports lovers in addition it will never be filled. In a great sense he was to Wombwell people ‘Our Roy.’ I often and the pleasure of coming into contact with Kilner and a better companion no one could wish to meet. There was no effective nation about him, greatness never spoiled him, and his complete lack of side ‘endeared him, to everybody. Roy had always the same happy countenance.
A man in every sense there was that in his presence that reminded one of the jolly schoolboy. To Kilner life was a benediction, and he carried the spirit of happiness on to the cricket field. He unconsciously made friends with everyone with whom he came into contact. Roy seemed to be born to greatness. Had he not risen to greater heights as a cricketer he would probably have made his mark as a footballer.
I recall the time when he was on the books of the Wombwell football club. We cherish the associations he had with him was.
Roy was an invaluable factor in Yorkshire County Cricket. He was always to be relied upon in a tight corner. Roy Kilner’s’s death will arouse a pang where ever sportsmen meet. Roy was an invaluable factor in Yorkshire County Cricket. He was always to be relied upon in a tight corner. His death will arouse a pang where ever sportsmen meet. Roy love to talk to the youngsters, and by his death every junior cricketer in this district will feel that he has lost a personal friend. He was not only an all-round cricketer but an all-round man. I doubt whether we shall ever look on his like again.
On behalf of the Wombwell Football Club I tender our deepest sympathy to the relatives.”